Depp Impact

Simon & Schuster has purchased the UK rights to publish Loser’s Town, a novel by Daniel P. Depp, who it turns out is actor Johnny Depp’s half-brother. According to The Independent:

Loser’s Town is poised to become a publishing phenomenon around the world as well as in its home market of the United States. The rights to it were bought by Simon and Schuster in Britain in a “pre-emptive” deal--when an offer is so high that the book is taken off the market--as well as being snapped up in Canada, Hungary and France, with more foreign rights due to be sold, according to The Bookseller.

Depp’s literary agent, Meg Davis, said she expected the interest to be “global” in the months leading up to publication next spring, with a follow-up “series” already planned.

“Daniel has been a producer [with Johnny Depp] so it has got a lot of authenticity and it gives the reader an insider’s view of Hollywood,” added Ms. Davis.

The book, which is described as “half literary, half commercial” in style, involves a blackmail plot which the hard-bitten private investigator, David Spandau, is drafted in to solve. But in spite of its insights into Hollywood’s underworld, Ms. Davis said it was “purely fictitious” and was not inspired by the life of the author’s famous brother.

The Independent has a lotmore here. The Telegraph doesn’t add much at all here.